How do teachers use comics to promote engagement, equity, and diversity in science classrooms?

Equitable learning opportunities are critical to the goals of science education. However, major curriculum standards are vague on how to achieve equity goals, and educators must often develop their own resources and strategies to achieve equity goals. This study examines how educators used a comic book series designed to interest youth in virology as a way to make science more broadly appealing to their diverse students. We begin with the notion of Pedagogical Design Capacity, which describes a dynamic relationship between teachers and their tools, and the ability for teachers to perceive and leverage affordances of artifacts as tools in their curriculum design. In a qualitative analysis of 18 interviews with educators, survey responses, instructional artifacts, and classroom observations, we describe the potential that educators saw in the comics, and the strategies they used to take advantage of that potential to promote equitable science teaching. Notably, we observed how the comics enabled educators to incorporate multiple literacies and disciplinary lenses into their lessons, expanding traditional views of science literacy. We documented the range of techniques by which they used comics and fictional narratives to support specific scientific practices, such as modeling. We also observed challenges that participants encountered in using comics, which included combatting their own and their students' attitudes and beliefs regarding the role of informal reading materials in science education. By investigating how resourceful science educators use comic books, this study helps to inform both researchers and educators on how innovative curriculum materials can broaden and diversify participation in science. Findings have implications for the design of similar curriculum materials, instructional approaches, as well as professional development to support equitable science teaching.

Disease Information Through Comics: A Graphic Option for Health Education.

This paper presents a critical interpretive synthesis of research on the efficacy of comics in educating consumers on communicable diseases. Using this review methodology, the authors drew from empirical as well as non-empirical literature to develop a theoretical framework exploring the implications of comics' combination of images and text to communicate this health promoting information. The authors examined selected works' alignment with the four motivational components of Keller's ARCS Model (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction) to evaluate research within the context of learner motivation. Findings of this research indicate comics offer a useful method for providing consumer health education, particularly regarding topics that individuals may have difficulty in discussing openly.

Aesthetic Literacy in Young People's and Adults' Awareness From a Developmental Learning Perspective.

In Brazilian schools, many teachers do not organize their teaching and students' tasks and actions in a way that facilitates theoretical thinking based on the abstraction and generalization of the work content. Because many students struggle to accomplish the tasks and actions themselves, teachers guide them. Over time, the students begin to have more autonomy in executing the proposed activities, as they completed mental operations while learning. This article aims to investigate how young people's and adults' awareness of the countryside is formed based on visual elements and writing, facilitating an understanding of their reality. A didactic-formative experiment was performed based on the cultural-historical theory. The comic books produced by the participants allowed them to develop their overall thinking, moving from the abstract to the concrete. They also formed an awareness of reality, which allowed them to have greater autonomy in the production of these stories as a means of representation and transformation of reality.

Psicodrama infantil: criação de histórias em quadrinho como objeto intermediário e intraintermediário / Psicodrama con niños: creación de cómics como objeto intermedio y intra intermedio / Children's psychodrama: creating comic stories as an intermediate and intra-intermediate object

RESUMO O presente trabalho apresenta e discute a criação conjunta de histórias em quadrinho como objeto intermediário e intraintermediário na psicoterapia psicodramática com crianças. Foram realizados um relato de experiência do caso G e um estudo da arte, possibilitando reconhecer histórias em quadrinho como objetos intermediários e intraintermediários conforme o objetivo de sua utilização nas sessões, permitindo o uso de técnicas psicodramáticas, diminuindo o campo tenso e recuperando a criatividade-espontaneidade do paciente. Foi possível concluir que o emprego de histórias em quadrinho propicia maior vínculo entre terapeuta e criança, além de fornecer meios ao paciente de se expressar sem receio, abrindo espaço para o jogar psicodramático, para a cocriação e para o encontro de novas respostas para situações vividas.

RESUMEN El presente trabajo presenta y discute la Creación Conjunta de Cómics como Objeto Intermedio y Intra Intermedio, en psicoterapia psicodramática con niños. Se realizó un relato de experiencia del caso G., y se estudió el arte, permitiendo reconocer los cómics como Objetos Intermedios e Intra Intermedios según la finalidad de su uso en las sesiones, permitiendo el uso de técnicas psicodramáticas, reduciendo el tiempo. campo y recuperando la creatividad-espontaneidad del paciente. Es posible concluir que el uso de cómics proporciona un mayor vínculo entre terapeuta y niño, además de brindar medios para que el paciente se exprese sin miedo, abriendo espacio para el juego psicodramático, para la co-creación y la búsqueda de nuevas respuestas a situaciones vividas.

ABSTRACT The current paper aimed to comprehend the cooperative comic stories' creation as an intermediary and an intra-intermediary object, becoming a potential practice to be used during psychodramatic psychotherapy with children. An experience report on case G and a study of art were carried out, making it possible to recognize comic books as intermediate and intra-intermediate objects according to the objective of their use in the sessions, allowing the use of psychodramatic techniques, reducing the tense field and recovering patient's creativity-spontaneity. It was possible to conclude that the use of comic books provides a greater bond between therapist and child, in addition to providing means for the patient to express themselves without fear, opening space for psychodramatic play, for co-creation and for finding new responses to situations experienced.

Physical education classes in Brazil and technology: a way to a better and healthier life / Clases de educación física en Brasil y tecnología: un caminohacia una vida mejor y más saludable

ABSTRACT Many students dislike Physical Education classes in Brazil because of content repetition, unsatisfactory curricular organization, among other factors. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficiency of a proposal for Physical Education classes, which includes contents of physical activities and the use of comic books application. This is a qualitative study, which comprises both bibliographic and field researches. Twelve classes were held to a group of eight graders from a public school in the city of Piracicaba/SP/Brazil. Questionnaires were used to evaluate the proposal for Physical Education classes. We found out that the use of comic books application is an effective teaching resource, as it reveals the students' experiences, what they felt, and the mediation between their "rational" and "sensitive" knowledge about physical activities. There is evidence that our experience has provided participating students with: 1- Leisure education and health education, 2- Awakening to knowledge of the body culture of movement, 3- Access to some leisure contents, mainly those related to physical, sports and artistic ones, 4- The creation of comics by App Flaras.

RESUMEN A muchos estudiantes no les gustan las clases de Educación Física en Brasil debido a la repetición de contenidos, organización curricular insatisfactoria, entre otros factores. El propósito de este estudio es evaluar la eficiencia de una propuesta de clases de Educación Física, que incluye contenidos de actividades físicas y el uso de la aplicación de cómics. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo, que comprende tanto investigaciones bibliográficas como de campo. Se impartieron doce clases a un grupo de ocho alumnos de una escuela pública de la ciudad de Piracicaba / SP / Brasil. Se utilizaron cuestionarios para evaluar la propuesta de clases de Educación Física. Descubrimos que el uso de la aplicación de cómics es un recurso didáctico eficaz, ya que revela las experiencias de los estudiantes, lo que sentían y la mediación entre sus conocimientos "racionales" y "sensibles" sobre las actividades físicas. Existe evidencia de que nuestra experiencia ha proporcionado a los estudiantes: 1. Educación para el ocio participativa y educación para la salud, 2. Despertar al conocimiento de la cultura corporal del movimiento, 3. Acceso a algunos contenidos de ocio, principalmente los relacionados con los físicos, deportivos y artísticos, y 4. La creación de cómics por App Flaras.

História em quadrinhos para educação em saúde bucal: construção, validação e análise da eficácia / Comics for oral health education: construction, validation, and analysis of efficacy

As tecnologias ilustradas tem sido um artifício amplamente utilizado para a educação em saúde bucal, sendo as histórias em quadrinhos um formato ainda pouco explorado no que se refere à validação e análise da sua eficácia para com o público-alvo. Este estudo objetivou avaliar a efetividade de uma história em quadrinhos no processo de educação em saúde bucal a crianças entre 06 e 12 anos atendidas na clínica de Odontopediatria de uma policlínica odontológica na Amazônia brasileira. Uma revista em quadrinhos lúdico-educativa foi confeccionada, validada e incorporada em um kit contendo 01 escova dental, 01 fio dental e 01 creme dental. Posteriormente foi aplicado um questionário com os pais (N=50), antes e depois da entrega dos kits, que avaliava os cuidados de higiene bucal da criança e as impressões sobre o impacto dos quadrinhos sobre a higiene bucal de seus filhos. Os resultados foram analisados descritivamente, por meio de frequências absolutas e porcentagens sendo usado o teste de McNemar (p<0,05). Verificou-se o aumento de 55,32% das crianças que passaram a usar o fio dental após implementação metodológica. Constatou-se, ainda, não haver diferença estatística entre a frequência de escovação após a entrega do kit (p=0.873), havendo, entretanto, aumento significativo na frequência do uso do fio dental entre as crianças avaliadas (p=0.0401). Os quadrinhos mostraram-se estatisticamente eficazes no aumento da frequência do uso do fio dental, tendo a HQ uma boa aceitação tanto das crianças como dos pais.

Illustrated media has been a widely used device for oral health education, with comics being a format that is still under explored in terms of validation and analysis of their effectiveness towards the target audience. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a comic book in the process of oral health education to children between 6 and 12 years of age attended at the pediatric dentistry clinic of a dental polyclinic in the Brazilian Amazon. A playful-educational comic book was made, validated, and incorporated into a kit containing 01 toothbrush, 01 floss, and 01 toothpaste. Subsequently, a questionnaire was applied with the parents (N=50), before and after the delivery of the kits, which evaluated the child's oral hygiene care and the impressions on the impact of the comics on the oral hygiene of their children. The results were analyzed descriptively, through absolute frequencies and percentages using the McNemar test (p<0.05). There was an increase of 55.32% of the children who started flossing after methodological implementation. It was also found that there was no statistical difference between the frequency of brushing after delivery of the kit (p=0.873), but there was a significant increase in the frequency of flossing among the children evaluated (p=0.0401). The comics were statistically effective in increasing the frequency of flossing, with comic books having a good acceptance of both children and parents.

A Novel tool for Health Literacy: Using Comic Books to Combat Childhood Obesity.

Childhood obesity remains a serious problem that requires health literacy projects to engage both parents and children in making healthy choices. This paper describes an award-funded project designed by LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) faculty from the Health Sciences Library and the Department of Pediatrics who created a comic book to help children and their parents learn practical ways children can make healthier lifestyle choices. LSUHS also collaborated with LSU-Shreveport to recruit a student artist, who illustrated the comic and designed promotional items used to promote the print and online versions of the book throughout the community.

Construction and validation of an educational technology on human papillomavirus vaccine for adolescents / Construcción y validación de una tecnología educativa sobre la vacuna virus del papiloma humano para adolescentes / Construção e validação de uma tecnologia educativa sobre a vacina papilomavírus humano para adolescentes

ABSTRACT Objective: To construct and validate a comic-type educational technology on the human papillomavirus vaccine. Methods: A methodological study developed based on the manuals, informative notes of the Ministry of Health and with the suggestions of the target audience. Content validation was performed with 11 expert judges and the validation of appearance, with 32 adolescents. For the judges, the Content Validity Index was used and for the target audience the proportion of agreement was considered. Results: The comic book obtained a content validation index total of 0.95, a validation index considered adequate. It was identified a concordance greater than 0.80 in the validation of appearance with the target public, indicating an excellent degree of agreement. Conclusion: The technology was considered valid by the judges and the target audience, and can be used as an educational tool to guide the practice in the acceptability scenario of the vaccine. Implications for practice: The technology may contribute to the stimulation of adhesion to the human papillomavirus vaccine, since, in Brazil, the rates of adhesion to this vaccine are still low.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Construir y validar una tecnología educativa del tipo historietas sobre la vacuna contra el virus del papiloma humano. Métodos: Estudio metodológico desarrollado con base en los manuales, notas informativas del Ministerio de la Salud y con las sugerencias del público objetivo. La validación de contenido fue realizada con 11 jueces especialistas y la validación de la apariencia, con 32 adolescentes. Para los jueces, se utilizó el Índice de Validez de Contenido y para el público objetivo se consideró la proporción de concordancia. Resultados: Las historietas obtuvieran un índice de validación de contenido total de 0,95, índice de validación considerado adecuado. Se identificó concordancia mayor que 0,80 en la validación de la apariencia con el público objetivo, indicando óptimo grado de concordancia. Conclusión: La tecnología fue considerada válida por los jueces y el público objetivo, pudiendo ser utilizada como instrumento educativo para orientar la práctica en el escenario de aceptabilidad de la vacuna. Implicaciones para la práctica: La tecnología puede contribuir con el estímulo a la adhesión a la vacuna contra el virus del papiloma humano, ya que en Brasil los índices de adhesión a esta vacuna todavía son bajos.

RESUMO Objetivo: Construir e validar uma tecnologia educativa do tipo história em quadrinhos sobre a vacina contra o papilomavírus humano. Métodos: Estudo metodológico desenvolvido com base nos manuais, notas informativas do Ministério da Saúde e com as sugestões da população alvo. A validação de conteúdo foi realizada com 11 juízes especialistas e a validação de aparência com 32 adolescentes. Para os juízes foi utilizado o Índice de Validade de Conteúdo e para o público alvo considerou-se a proporção de concordância. Resultados: A história em quadrinhos obteve um índice de validação de conteúdo total de 0,95, índice de validação considerado adequado. Identificou-se concordância maior que 0,80 na validação de aparência com o público alvo, indicando ótimo grau de concordância. Conclusão: A tecnologia foi considerada válida pelos juízes e pela população alvo, podendo ser utilizada como instrumento educativo para orientar a prática no cenário de aceitabilidade da vacina. Implicações para a prática: A tecnologia poderá estimular a adesão à vacina contra o papilomavírus humano, uma vez que, no Brasil, os índices de adesão a essa vacina ainda são baixos.

Super educators.

When Cathy Young wants to explain attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to the children she works with, she gives them a Medikidz guide called What's up with Astra? ' Five comic book heroes are on hand to explain health and medical conditions to young adolescents and their parents.

Gênero e super-heróis: o traçado do corpo masculino pela norma / Gender and superheroes: the masculine body traced by the norm

As Histórias em Quadrinhos de super-heróis ganham vida na imaginação dos leitores, estabelecendo fortes ligações com seu cotidiano. Um corpo musculoso e viril vem historicamente se tornando o referencial de corporeidade masculina, enquanto corpos que desviam desse modelo são comumente satirizados ou excluídos da mídia. Este ensaio objetiva discutir as formas de representação do corpo masculino nas HQs da DC Comics, especificamente nas histórias de Superman e de Batman, conforme a caracterização de personagens como "heróis", "vilões" ou "coadjuvantes". Nossa premissa é a de que estas caracterizações remetem a tendências distintas de representação dos corpos, (re)produzindo normas sociais e valores de estética sobre as corporeidades.

Superhero comic books gain life in the reader's imagination, establishing strong connections to their daily life. A muscular and virile body has historically become the reference for male corporeality, while bodies that deviate from this are commonly satirized or excluded from the media. This essay intends to discuss the forms of representation of the male body in DC comic books, specifically Superman and Batman, according to the portrayal of characters as 'heroes', 'villains' or 'supporting characters'. Our premise is that these roles relate to distinct tendencies for the depiction of bodies, (re)producing social norms and aesthetic values upon corporealities.